Question: Should I Apply to Graduate School at the Same University Where I Earned My BA?
I'm applying to a school that is part of the same university I got my B.A. from. Will they see this as a positive (I liked the school so much I'm coming back), a negative (not a fresh face or something?) or neither? It's my first choice.
Answer: The easy answer: it depends. On what? That's where it gets hard. Graduate schools use different criteria in selecting among applicants than do undergraduate schools. Graduate admissions committees are concerned with whether you have the background and skills to specialize in your chosen field. In some fields, it's preferred that students are trained in more than university and by more than one set of faculty. Generally, however, it shouldn't matter and may even be to your advantage if the faculty at your university know you and perceive you well.
